Merchandise-display case



June 25, 1929; I c, KOLLMAN 1,718,926

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CASE} Filed April 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 My WINVENTOR 1 ATTORNEY June 1929- c. F. KOLLMAN MERCHANDISE DISPLAY CASE Filed April 16, 1928 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR J BY I ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK KOLLMAN, OF KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA, .ASSIGNOR TO SPECIALTY DISPLAY CASE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

MERCHANDISE-DISPLAY CASE.

Application filed April 16, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in display cases for merchandise that is ordinari ly dis iensed in packages inv numerous grades or various qualities, such as leads and erasers for the renewal of pencils, and also, other merchandise that is lupplied in packages or in stick form.

The object oithe improvement is to afford a case for containing packages of merchandise in grouped packages so arranged as to be exposed in orderly assortment to be viewed by purchasers, and to, provide in conjunction with the case a simple mechanism upon operation of which the lowermost packages of merchandisecontained in the case may be simultaneously shifted so as to partially extend from the case, in order to facilitate their removal as needed, without disturbance of the other packages remaining in the case.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of the appliance; i

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the invention, portions being cut away; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section in right angles to that of Fig. 2.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by correspomling cl'laracters. I

The invention comprises a case composed of a base 1 in the back portion of which is formed a recess 2 upon which base is erected a box having ends 3, spaced front panels 1 and 5 and a. top 6.

a plane at i he rear of the box is partially closed. by a vertically mo able sliding plate 7, and a horizontal shelf 8 is disposed in the lower portion of the box .in spaced relation with the base. Also, in the upper portion of the box is horizontally disposed a ledge 9, the underside of said ledge and the top of the shelf 8 being slotted so as to receive the corresponding ends of a. series of vertically (llSPO38Cl partitions 10 that divide the space in the box between the shelf and ledge into compartments 11. Y

The front of the box has along the upper -edge of the panel 5 an inwardly extending marginal rail. 12, and between said rail and the bottom of the panel 4 is positioned a pane Serial No. 270,278.

of glass 13 through which said compartments are exposed to view.

Each partition 10 has a notch 14 at its .lower front end, and has also a notch 10 at its upper end at the rear edge thereof, which latter notch is made to receive a clcat 16 that is set in the rear edge of the ledge 9 so that sa d partitions are thereby held in place.

Between the base and the shelf is pivotally disposed an actuating member consisting of a plate 17 provided at its upper edge with an inwardly extending flange 18, the plate beingsupported by end trunnions19 at its ends, which trunnions extend into the correspondmg ends of the box. The lower edge of the plate 17 has a contiguous flange 20 to which is fixed a lever 21 by means of which the actuating member is tilted upon its trunnions. A

compression spring 22, disposed in the shelf 8 bears against the plate 17 and thereby sustains the actuating member in normal position. The flange 18 on the actuating mem her is so disposed as to enter the notches 14 in the partitions when the actuating member is tilted by applying downward pressure on the lever 21, the recess 2 in the base being provided to afford clearance for the lover. The front edge of the shelf 8 is spaced from the panel 5 of the box so as to admit of limited swinging movement of the plate 17.

In. utilizing the invention, packages 23-24-125 of various sizes are ranked in the different compartments, which compartments are proportioned suitably for their accommoelation, the packages in each compartment being disposed one upon. another. The lower edge of the sliding plate is shaped with off sets ere-27 so that clearance is afforded the lowermost package in each con'ipartment when. moved rear 'ardly on the shelf, the oil'- sets being made for the accommodation of the different sizes of the packages. The lower edge of the plate extends so as to prevent rearward movement of the overlying packages. By depressing the lever 21 the flange 18 of the actuating member is brought against the front end of the lowermost package in each compartment, which lowermost packages are thereupon moved rearwardly upon the shelf and partially from beneath the overlying packages, so that the rear ends of said lowermost packages project from beneath the plate 7 where they may be readily grasped and manually withdrawn from the appliance to be disposed of. As the lowermost package is withdrawn the next succeeding package in the corresponding compartment gravitatesto position upon the shelf, and may be shifted in as to project outwardly from beneath the plate by operating the actuating member as in the former instance.

By suitably labeling the packages or by placing upon the front of the box as well as upon the back of the plate 7 suitable indicating marks or labels to designatethe grade or character of the merchandisecontained in the respective compartments, dispensing of shelf, and having an inturned flange movable into said notches over said shelf whereby the lowermostpackage of a series of packages ranked in each compartment is partially ejected vrearwardly from said shelf; and a vertically movable plate in the back of said box, the lower edge of which is so formed as to 'admit'of the projection of said partially ejected packages therebeneath, said plate being operable to retain the overlying packages in their respective compartments.

2. A merchandise display appliance consisting of a box, the front of which has a pane of glass through which is exposed the interior of the box; a horizontal shelf in the lower portion of the box; a series of vertically disposed partitions extending upwardly from said shelf dividing the box into numerous compartments; an actuating member in the lower part of the box so formed and disposed to engage the'lowermost package of a series of packages ranked in each compartment and to partially eject rearwardly said lowermost packagesfrom said shelf; and a movable plate in the back of said box, the lower edge of Y which is, so formed as to admit of the projection of .said partially ejected packages therebeneath, said plate being operable to retain the overlying packages in their respective. compartments.

3. A merchandise display appliance consisting of a box having a series of vertically disposed compartments and a glass covered opening in its front through which said com- 7 partments are exposed to view; and an actuating member in said box operable to engage the lowermost package of a series of pack ages ranked in each compartment and to partially eject rcarwardly said lowermost packages from said compartments, the back of said box being so formed at its lower edge as to admit of the projection of said partially -i]CCi1Q(l packages thcrebcn lath and to retain the overlying packages in their respective compartments.

4. A merchandise display appliance consisting of a box having a series of vertically disposed compartments and a glass covered opening through which said compartments are exposed to view, one side of said box being open to an extent as to admit outward movement from said compartments of the lowermost package of a series of packages ranked in each of said compartments, and a mechanism having limited movement in said box operable to engage the lowermost package in each compartment and simultaneously move the same outwardly to a limited extent, whereby is maintained in accessible position for manual removal from the box, the lowermost package in each compartment.

5. A merchandise display appliance consisting of a case having vertically disposed compartments in which correspondim series of packages of merchandise are displayed, one side of the case having an opening at the lower ends of said compartments through which the lowermost package in each compartment may .be moved outwardly, and a manually operated actuating member including means for limiting the movcn'ient thereof arranged inthe case whereby the lowermost package in each compartment, upon operation of said actuating member, will be collectively projected to a limited extent from said case whereby is maintained in position for manual removal from the case the lowermost package in each compartment.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES FREDERICK KOLLMAN.

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